The late-night wars are heating up: David Letterman's The Late Show bested Conan O'Brien's The Tonight Show in last night's overnight ratings, 3.4/8 to 2.9/7, after only the seventh day of head-to-head competition. (The Leno-hosted Tonight Show consistently defeated The Late Show in the Nielsens.) O'Brien, who took over the reins of The Tonight Show on June 1, debuted with strong ratings but has seen numbers steadily dip since. These preliminary ratings do not reflect viewers' demographic breakdown, and final numbers for O'Brien's first week will be released on Thursday.
Featured Video
OscarWatch TV: 'Avatar' as underdog?
Dave Karger and Missy Schwartz on the rise of ''Hurt Locker,'' Sandra leapfrogging Meryl for Best Actress
More 
Today's Most Popular
-
-
-
-
-
Doc Jensen on 'Lost' 'Lost': 'Kate' expectations
Special Coverage
Totally 'Lost'!
Get up to speed for the final season:
New theories and news from Doc Jensen, exclusive video, photos, trivia, and more
More
Comments (1-15) of 28 Add your comment
I love Conan, but once it became clear he wasn’t going to change his style very much for the new show, I had a feeling the numbers would go down.
He’s just too quirky and odd for mainstream viewers.
Plus I gotta say… there’s something kind of cold and sterile about the new set that I can easily see turning viewers off.
It’s just not as warm and inviting a place as what Leno had, or that Letterman has.
They really need to rethink it and come up with something more loose and fun to suit Conan’s personality.
We Leno viewers are used to sharp one liners one after another for at least ten minutes. Conan’s quirky physical humor (?)of jumps, hand gestures, coat openings, and arm twirls are better for 4th graders. Night after night of this does not replace great writing and great delivery.
That’s because Leno’s target demographic was apparently my grandparents. Once he comes on at nine in the fall, they’ll be able to go to bed even earlier!
Maybe you should switch over to an reality show or some informercial. The demise of sense & sensibility. Humor and Real News have been dementid by —
Lynn, you got it right. Conan’s “humor” is too puerile for the adults who watched Leno. It’s a pity that Conan’s young devotees don’t have a clue what real humor is (these are the people who watch South Park and Beavis & Butthead – ‘nough said).
I really gave it a go, watching Conan’s first show all the way thru 06/09, even soliciting feedback from my friends on the program. We all agree, it sucks. Even the focus group Conan had on didn’t like him. Ironic that he would show that, as it was no laughing matter. Meanwhile, I was pleasantly entertained by Letterman and Ferguson (Yes Fallon also sucks). Wow did NBC screw this up or what? Conan lost the number one spot, held consistently for a dozen years by Jay after just one week at the helm? NBC may want to consider putting Jay’s new show on a little sooner.
…also for some reason, although I think the new set is nice, I don’t think it works. I agree with DavidJ. It lacks the warmth achieved with Jay and David’s sets. Jay’s set was far more intimate and he actually touched the visitors. I do think Conan’s desk is an upgrade though. He really needs to switch his comedic style up if he’s going to have the longevity of those who came before him. He’s already lost the number one spot. Wow!!!
Conan is unique and his brand of humor works especially when he was on the Late Night Show but something is missing here. The set seems too spread out, even the guests look uncomfortable. There are times when Dave annoys me and some of his humor is too crass but over all, he has a style that works and Paul is the best musician anywhere! NBC tries hard but keeps missing the boat.
I love Conan. He’s by far the smartest and funniest of the late night talk show hosts. It’s a shame (although not a surprise) that some older viewers don’t get his humor. However, I am quite pleased to see that some of these older viewers are at least savvy enough to be able to get online and critique his show. Congratulations old people. There’s hope for you yet. Keep watching Conan. You might just learn something. You might even learn how to recapture the magical laughter of youth. At the very least, you’ll learn how to make deep emotional connections with your children and grandchildren.
Conan just does not do it for me. I wasn’t that fond of Jay Leno nor Letterman. However, my choice is Letterman from here on out. Conan’s humor is too childish. His looks are also a bit strange. Better to be dead then to have red on the head. Ugh! That hair!! Give me a break. Get a haircut. And quick trying to act funny. Just be funny, if that is at all possible. Good luck. Where’s Johnny?
I watched the first episode of Conan’s Tonight Show and felt I was watching vintage Dave, you know back when Dave was edgy and not a cranky crumudgeon. Older viewers may not get Conan but that’s okay, there’s plenty of viewers to fill the void who “get” subtle sardonic humour. If you’ve ever heard Conan interviewed, you’ll instantly realize this is one sharp individual.
Finally!, a Tonight Show worth watching. It’s like a breath of fresh air in a stale empty house.
Gave Conan a couple of nights but he has nt done anything to change up his style at all to try and appeal to the greater audience old and young out there. Not surprised Letterman has taken the number one slot. I miss Jay Leno – much better stand up comedian and preferred his interview technique. Conan makes it too much about him which is a major turn off for me. NBC must be regreting their decision to let Leno go – apart from the Today Show and the Tonight Show when do they ever hold the number one spot for anything??
Conan does appeal to the younger demographic. I am 27 and will be watching him for 20 years no problem. The folks who don’t like him who are in their 40’s and 50’s will probably be going to bed at 7pm in a couple of years. I know I’m being a jerk, I’m joking. Preference is never fact. I’m happy and rooting for Conan. Hopefully he becomes a legend like Leno and Letterman are.
There is just something about Conan that just turns me off. Kinda like what Lettermen does to some people. It is too much about “them” and not about the guests and audience. Who cares about the host? Their egos are so large it is no wonder people get sick of them. At least Carson lowered himself to a point where people actually liked him. There was a certain air about Johnny. Conan and Lettermen leave people wondering why even turn them on. Leno was better than both and will be missed. However, staying up to watch egos is passe. Who needs it? Late night television is terrible… no matter which jackass you watch.
I love Conan, but ever since he took over the Tonight Show, he’s been, well, to put it as nicely as I can, sucking. He really does look like he’s trying too hard. The frat boy humor worked well for Late Night, but not on the Tonight Show. And Andy Richter makes the show sink even lower, Conan is SO much better off without that dead weight. I’d never thought I’d say this, but I miss Leno! A lot! I can’t wait until he comes back in September! Oh please Conan, get some new writers to write some actually FUNNY jokes and skits, and try to rely less on your silliness for laughs! You’ve graduated now, from a hot dog to a filet mignon, and it’s time to bust out the fork and knife, instead of eating with your hands.
On another note, Freddie 09, what’s with the comment “Better to be dead then to have red on the head”? Are against all redheads or just this particular one? Please clarify your comment, because one can easily perceive it as harboring prejudice against redheads.